Free Software Song

The Free Software Song is a filk song by Richard M. Stallman about free software. The song is set to the melody of the Bulgarian "Sadi Moma".

Jamie Zawinski links to the song as "further evidence of why co-operation with Stallman is impossible".[1]

A version of this song is also performed by a band (the GNU/Stallmans) during the credits of the documentary Revolution OS. In 1998, Matt Loper recorded a techno version of the song.[2] Jono Bacon also recorded a death metal version of the song,[3] and the band Fenster recorded a rhythmic version.[4] In addition, there is a Spanish pop punk version recorded by ALEC, and a Rick Astley mashup.

A version is used in the free software karaoke video game Sinatra.[5]

Lyrics

Join us now and share the software;
You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.
Join us now and share the software;
You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.
Hoarders can get piles of money,
That is true, hackers, that is true.
But they cannot help their neighbors;
That's not good, hackers, that's not good.
When we have enough free software
At our call, hackers, at our call,
We'll kick out those dirty licenses
Ever more, hackers, ever more.
Join us now and share the software;
You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.
Join us now and share the software;
You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.

The lyrics have been placed in the public domain.[6]

References

  1. ^ "List of jwzhacks - see comment at Lucid Emacs". http://www.jwz.org/hacks/. Retrieved 2008-12-02. 
  2. ^ "why cooperation with RMS is impossible, part 3". http://www.jwz.org/blog/2003/08/why-cooperation-with-rms-is-impossible-part-3/. 
  3. ^ "Jono Bacon - Free Software Song". http://www.lastfm.com/music/Jono+Bacon/_/Free+Software+Song. 
  4. ^ "Free Software Song". http://www.gnu.org/music/free-software-song.html. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 
  5. ^ Sinatra Homepage
  6. ^ notes "The Free Software Foundation claims no copyrights on this song."

External links